Sony VGC-VA1 User Manual Download

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Before Use

Printed Documentation

❑

A Setting Up Poster

— Describes the process from unpacking to starting up your VAIO.

❑

Troubleshooting Guide

— Contains solutions to common problems.

❑

Recovery Guide

— Contains an explanation of how to recover your computer's system if you need to.

❑

Booklets containing the following information:

Sony Guarantee

conditions,

Safety Regulations

Modem Regulations

and

Wireless LAN Regulations

Non-printed Documentation

❑

User Guide (this manual)

— Contains features of your computer. It also includes information about the software

programs included with your computer, as well as information on solving common problems.

❑

Specifications

— The online

Specifications

describe the hardware and software configuration of your VAIO computer.

To view the online

Specifications

Connect to the Internet.

Go to the Sony VAIO-Link online support Web site at

http://www.vaio-link.com

Summary of Contents for VGC-VA1

Page 1: ...N User Guide Personal Computer V G C V A 1 P C V E 5 1 M ...

Page 2: ...ware or other information contained herein and hereby expressly disclaims any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose with regard to this manual the software or such other information In no event shall Sony Corporation be liable for any incidental consequential or special damages whether based on tort contract or otherwise arising out of or in connection with th...

Page 3: ...ng point to use your computer a comprehensive collection of everything you need to get the most from your computer The user guides are collected under Documentation which can be shown as follows 1 Click Start and then the My Club VAIO icon 2 Click Documentation 3 Select the guide you want to read You can manually browse to the user guides by going to My Computer VAIO C your C drive Documentation D...

Page 4: ...ditions Safety Regulations Modem Regulations and Wireless LAN Regulations Non printed Documentation User Guide this manual Contains features of your computer It also includes information about the software programs included with your computer as well as information on solving common problems Specifications The online Specifications describe the hardware and software configuration of your VAIO comp...

Page 5: ...t Center Important information about your computer in the form of notices and announcements In My Club VAIO you can also find Accessories Want to expand the capabilities of your computer Click on this icon and have a look at your compatible accessories Software Feeling creative Click this icon for an overview of your software and check out our upgrade options Wallpapers Click this icon and check o...

Page 6: ...ts to view all Windows Help resources including those that are on the Internet To access Help and Support Center click Start and then Help and Support Or go to the Help and Support Center by pressing the Microsoft Windows key and the F1 key Further Sources Consult the Online Help files of the software you are using for detailed information on features and troubleshooting Go to www club vaio com to...

Page 7: ...le position 3 while using the keyboard pointing device or external mouse Let your upper arms hang naturally at your sides Have breaks during sessions with your computer Excessive use of the computer may strain muscles or tendons Furniture and posture Sit in a chair with good back support Adjust the level of the chair so your feet are flat on the floor A footrest may make you more comfortable Sit i...

Page 8: ...Choose a location where windows and lights do not create glare and reflection on the display Use indirect lighting to avoid bright spots on the display You can also purchase accessories for your display that help reduce glare Proper lighting adds to your comfort and work effectiveness Ventilation Make sure you leave at least 25 cm of space behind and on each side of the main unit When you lift the...

Page 9: ...g Started This section describes how to get started with using your VAIO computer Locating Controls and Ports page 10 About the Indicator Lights page 13 Connecting the Power Cord page 14 Shutting Down Your Computer Safely page 15 ...

Page 10: ...tons for increasing or decreasing the screen brightness F LAMP ON OFF switch for turning on and off all the indicator lights on the computer G SM xD Picture Card slot page 55 H CF CompactFlash memory card slot page 55 I Stereo speakers J Manual eject hole page 128 K Optical disc drive page 27 L Drive eject button page 27 M SD memory card slot page 55 N Memory Stick slot page 49 O Media Access indi...

Page 11: ...11 n N Getting Started Right A Power button B Hi Speed USB USB 2 0 port page 69 C i LINK IEEE1394 S400 port page 72 D AC Input port page 14 Supports high full low speeds ...

Page 12: ...page 33 E PC Card slot page 47 F WIRELESS LAN indicator page 59 G WIRELESS LAN switch page 59 H CONNECT button page 17 page 22 I Network Ethernet port page 74 J Modem port page 58 K S PDIF Optical Out port for connecting digital equipment such as an AV amplifier L Line In connector for connecting audio equipment M Microphone connector page 68 N Headphones connector O Hi Speed USB USB 2 0 ports pag...

Page 13: ... Illuminates when data is read from or written to a memory card Do not enter Standby mode or turn off the computer when this indicator is on When the indicator is off the memory card is not being used MONITOR OFF Illuminates in orange when the display output and the speaker volume are turned off Drive Illuminates when data is read from or written to the hard disk or optical disc drive Do not enter...

Page 14: ...o connect the power cord 1 Insert the power cord into the AC In port 1 on the right of the computer 2 Insert the power cord plug into a grounded AC wall outlet surge protector or Universal Power Supply UPS 2 To disconnect the computer completely from AC power unplug the power cord Make sure that the AC outlet is easily accessible If you are interrupted and need to leave your computer suddenly plac...

Page 15: ...low To shut down your computer 1 Turn off any peripherals connected to the computer 2 Click Start and then Turn Off Computer The Turn off computer window appears 3 Click Turn Off 4 Respond to any prompts warning you to save documents or to consider other users and wait for the computer to turn off automatically The power indicator light turns off ...

Page 16: ...e most out of using your computer Using the Keyboard page 17 Using the Mouse page 22 Using the Optical Disc Drive page 27 Using the TV Function page 33 Using PC Cards page 47 Using a Memory Stick page 49 Using Other Memory Cards page 55 Using the Internet page 58 Using Wireless LAN WLAN page 59 ...

Page 17: ... of power consumption For details on power management see Using the Power Saving Modes page 81 F POWER switch Slide the POWER switch to turn on and off the wireless keyboard G Indicators Battery appears while the AA batteries for the keyboard are sufficient and switches to when the batteries wear out Num lock Appears while in the Num Lock state Caps lock Appears while in the Caps Lock state Scroll...

Page 18: ...keyboard height B CONNECT button Press to enable the keyboard to communicate with the main unit C Battery compartment Storage compartment for the AA batteries D Pointing device switch Slide the switch to turn the pointing device on and off POINTING D POINTING DEVICE VICE ...

Page 19: ...properly installed Press the CONNECT button located on the left of the computer first and then press the CONNECT button on the bottom of the keyboard Avoid using radio controlled toys or equipment CB radios and other wireless devices in the area near the wireless keyboard These devices may cause interference causing the keyboard to stop working properly Do not place metal furniture near the comput...

Page 20: ... CONNECT button 4 on the bottom of the keyboard The connect indicator appears in the LCD window on the keyboard when connection is established between the computer and the keyboard If not repeat the procedure Steps 4 and 5 must be completed within 10 seconds of each other If the wireless keyboard is left unused for 20 minutes or more the connect indicator will turn off This could indicate that the...

Page 21: ...wer level If the wireless keyboard does not operate properly the batteries may need to be replaced If the wireless keyboard is not being used for an extended period of time remove the batteries to avoid possible damage from battery leakage If you want to put the keyboard in a more ergonomical position open the keyboard feet ...

Page 22: ... central wheel to scroll up or down a page Press the wheel once to lock the scroll action and control the movement by moving the entire mouse the scroll function is available only with applications that support it C Right button Press the right button once to display a context sensitive shortcut menu not always an active function D Power switch Slide the switch to turn the mouse on and off This wi...

Page 23: ...n press the CONNECT button on the bottom of the mouse Avoid using radio controlled toys or equipment CB radios and other wireless devices in the area near the wireless mouse These devices may cause interference causing the mouse to stop working properly Use surfaces such as plain paper card stock or fabric that have minimal repetitive patterns Avoid surfaces such as mirrors smooth glass or magazin...

Page 24: ...VAIO Computer To connect the wireless mouse 1 Insert the two AA batteries supplied with your computer into the wireless mouse as shown below 2 Turn on the computer 3 Press the CONNECT button 1 on the left of the computer ...

Page 25: ...een the wireless mouse and the computer should now be established Steps 3 and 4 must be completed within 10 seconds of each other If the wireless mouse does not operate properly the batteries may need to be replaced If the wireless mouse is not being used for an extended period of time remove the batteries to avoid possible damage from battery leakage ...

Page 26: ... n N Using Your VAIO Computer Adjusting the Mouse Functions 1 Click Start and then Control Panel 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware 3 Click Mouse The Mouse Properties window appears 4 Change the settings ...

Page 27: ...he drive eject button 1 to open the drive The tray slides out 3 Place a disc in the middle of the tray with the label side facing up and gently push until the disc clicks into place 4 Close the tray by pushing it in gently Do not remove the optical disc when the computer is in a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate Doing so may cause the computer to malfunction ...

Page 28: ... for use with a VAIO computer be sure to read the notices on the disc packaging carefully to check both playback and recording compatibility with your computer s optical disc drives Sony does NOT guarantee the compatibility of VAIO CD drives with discs that not compliant with the official CD format standard or DVD standard in relation to DVD drives USING NON COMPLIANT DISCS CAN CAUSE FATAL DAMAGE ...

Page 29: ... use circular discs Do not use discs in any other shape star heart card etc as this may damage the optical disc drive Do not strike or shake the computer while writing data onto a disc Deactivate the screen saver and exit anti virus software before writing data onto a disc Do not use memory resident utility software while writing data to a disc This may cause the computer to malfunction When using...

Page 30: ...he volume before playing a DVD Do not switch power saving modes while the computer is playing a DVD Region code indicators are labeled on the DVDs to indicate in which region and on what type of player you can play the disc If the DVD is labeled all this means that you can play this DVD in most regions of the world If the region code of your residence area is different from the label on the DVD di...

Page 31: ...ile s or folder s you want to copy and either Right click the file s or folder s point to Send To and click the optical disc drive name Drag the file s or folder s onto the optical disc drive icon in the Files Stored on This Computer panel 4 Close Windows Explorer 5 Click Start and then My Computer 6 Click the optical disc drive icon under Devices with Removable Storage A new window appears with t...

Page 32: ...he DVD For instructions on how to use a program see the help guide included with the DVD software program Copying Files to DVDs To copy files to a DVD R or DVD RW 1 Insert the disc into the optical disc drive 2 Click Start and point to All Programs 3 Select a DVD software program you want to use from the submenu For instructions on how to use a program see the help guide included with the DVD soft...

Page 33: ... along with the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system to enhance your computing experience Media Center provides you with a wide range of TV DVD and video viewing as well as music recording and playback This section describes how to set up your TV set top box and other equipment ...

Page 34: ...ends on the type of cable connection available in your home TV signal reception strength will vary widely depending on service availability in your area as well as the type of connection available One primary cable to connect the computer to a TV cable or antenna is the TV coaxial cable not supplied with the computer One end connects to the computer s VHF UHF port and the other end connects to the...

Page 35: ...ing to standard cable access CATV To connect in CATV mode 1 Connect one end of the TV coaxial cable 1 not supplied to your cable service access wall outlet 2 2 Connect the other end of the coaxial cable to the VHF UHF port 3 on the computer ...

Page 36: ...indoor outdoor antenna you may need to reorient the antenna for best reception Move the antenna cable away from other power sources or connectors to reduce reception interference To connect in terrestrial mode 1 Connect one end of a TV coaxial cable 2 3 not supplied to your antenna outlet 1 2 Connect the TV coaxial cable to the VHF UHF port 4 on the computer ...

Page 37: ... to change TV channels if the device is able to control the STB To connect in STB mode Option 1 1 Connect one end of a TV coaxial cable 1 not supplied to your cable service access wall outlet 2 Connect the other end to the VHF UHF IN jack on the back panel of your set top box STB 3 2 Connect a second TV coaxial cable 4 not supplied to the VHF UHF OUT connector on your STB unit 3 Connect the other ...

Page 38: ...38 n N Using Your VAIO Computer ...

Page 39: ... end to the VHF UHF port 5 on the rear of your TV monitor or display 3 Connect the double mini plugs of the audio cable 6 not supplied to the Composite Audio Out L R connectors 7 on the back panel of your STB unit 3 matching the jack colors Connect the other end of the audio cable 6 to the Composite Audio In connector 8 on the computer 4 Connect one end of the S Video cable 9 not supplied to the C...

Page 40: ...40 n N Using Your VAIO Computer ...

Page 41: ...V recording session PAUSE button Press to pause media playback Press again to resume playback FWD button Press to fast forward media at three speeds SKIP button Press to move media forward for example one audio track one DVD chapter and 30 seconds of recorded TV or video REPLAY button Press to move media backward for example one audio track one DVD chapter and seven seconds of TV or video REW butt...

Page 42: ...our video collection M MORE button Press to view additional options that are available for Media Center features N Directional arrow buttons Press the M m and buttons to move the pointer on the screen OK button Press OK to select the desired action or window option When watching full screen TV press OK to return to the previous channel Press OK again to switch between channels O CH PG Channel Page...

Page 43: ...1 Turn the remote commander over 2 Press in the tab 1 and lift the battery cover up 3 Insert the supplied two AA batteries into the remote control 4 Align the battery cover to the remote control 5 Press down until the cover clicks into place If the remote control does not operate properly you may need to replace the batteries When the remote control is not being used for extended periods of time r...

Page 44: ...e remote sensor cable 2 into the USB port 3 Position the remote sensor 3 to enable unobstructed communication with the remote control If you are using a cable or satellite set top box you can attach the remote sensor control to the remote sensor which enables you to control the set top box with the remote control ...

Page 45: ... remote sensor 2 2 Remove the adhesive tape cover from the bottom of the remote sensor control 3 Attach the remote sensor control 3 onto the set top box 4 near the infrared port 5 Do not cover the infrared port when attaching the remote sensor control The remote sensor must be visible in a line of sight with the remote control in order to function properly ...

Page 46: ...s may not be compatible with the computer You do not need to shut down the computer before inserting or removing a PC Card To insert a PC Card 1 Hold the PC Card with the label facing toward the front of the computer 2 Gently push the PC Card into the PC Card slot The PC Card is automatically detected by your system The Safely Remove Hardware icon appears on the taskbar ...

Page 47: ... Card manufacturer If an mark appears on the Device Manager tab in the System Properties window remove the software driver and then reinstall it Do not force a PC Card into the slot It may damage the connector pins If you have difficulty inserting a PC Card check that you are inserting the PC Card in the correct direction See the manual supplied with your PC Card for more information on use Removi...

Page 48: ...esigned for exchanging and sharing digital data with compatible products such as digital cameras mobile phones and other devices Because it is removable it can be used for external data storage For the latest information on Memory Stick devices visit the Sony online support Web site at http www memorystick com Write protecting a Memory Stick Some versions of Memory Stick are designed with an erasu...

Page 49: ...50 n N Using Your VAIO Computer Some Memory Stick versions do not have an erasure prevention switch ...

Page 50: ...mory card slots To insert a Memory Stick using the Memory Stick slot 1 Flip the front panel down using your fingertip 2 Locate the Memory Stick slot 3 Hold the Memory Stick with the arrow facing toward the front of the computer and insert it into the Memory Stick slot in the direction of the arrow 4 Carefully slide the Memory Stick into the slot until it clicks in place The Memory Stick is automat...

Page 51: ... Stick into the slot if it does not insert smoothly Do not insert more than one Memory Stick into the Memory Stick slot Inserting the media improperly may damage the computer The computer supports Memory Stick Duo and is equipped with the Memory Stick combo slot that is compatible with both standard and duo size media For more information on Memory Stick Duo visit the Memory Stick web site at http...

Page 52: ...tart and then My Computer to open the My Computer window 2 Double click the Memory Stick icon to view the list of data files saved on the Memory Stick To format a Memory Stick Use the Memory Stick Formatter software See the help file on the Memory Stick Formatter software for details ...

Page 53: ...Stick in toward the computer The Memory Stick ejects 3 Pull the Memory Stick out of the slot Always remove the Memory Stick gently or it may pop out unexpectedly Do not remove the Memory Stick while the Media Access indicator is turned on If you do you may lose data Large volumes of data may take time to load so be sure the indicator is off before removing the Memory Stick ...

Page 54: ...fore You Use Memory Cards Your computer supports the following memory cards CompactFlash Multi Media Card MMC Microdrive SmartMedia xD PictureCards Secure Digital SD The VAIO Link web site www vaio link com contains the latest information on compatible memory cards Always insert the correct memory card into the appropriate memory card slot Do not attempt to insert a different memory card or memory...

Page 55: ...e the appropriate slot for the memory card you want to use 3 Hold the memory card with the arrow facing up and toward the memory card slot 4 Carefully slide the memory card into the slot until it clicks in place Do not force the card into the slot If the memory card does not go into the slot easily remove it gently and verify you are inserting it in the proper direction ...

Page 56: ...r slot Use care when removing a memory card to avoid damage to the slot or card Do not remove a memory card while the Media Access indicator light is on The card or its data may become damaged To remove a memory card 1 Check that the Media Access indicator is off 2 Firmly grasp the extended part of the memory card 3 Carefully pull it out of the slot ...

Page 57: ...ne and may not work with multiple telephone lines or a private branch exchange PBX Some of these connections may result in excess electrical current and could cause a malfunction in the internal modem If you connect a telephone cable coming through a splitter the modem or connected device may not work properly To set up a dial up connection to the Internet 1 Click Start point to All Programs Acces...

Page 58: ... connect to a local area network LAN through a wireless radio connection So there is no need anymore to pull cables or wires through walls and ceilings You can communicate without an Access Point which means that you can communicate between a limited number of computers ad hoc Or you can communicate through an Access Point which allows you to create a full infrastructure network infrastructure For...

Page 59: ...hoc An ad hoc network is a network in which a local network is created only by the wireless devices themselves with no other central controller or Access Point Each device communicates directly with other devices in the network You can set up an ad hoc network easily at home ...

Page 60: ...ppears 6 Select the Wireless Networks tab 7 Click the Add button The Wireless network properties window appears 8 Enter a Network name SSID 2 You can choose a 32 digit alphanumeric name 9 Select Open from the Network Authentication drop down box 10 Select WEP from the Data Encryption drop down box 11 Deselect the The key is provided for me automatically option button Some information becomes visib...

Page 61: ...19 Click OK The computer is ready to communicate with another computer 1 If you want to communicate between two or more computers you need to configure all these computers in the same way This means that you need to enter the same Network name and the same Network key on all computers as on the first computer you configure 2 Hexadecimal A number representation using the digits 0 9 with their usual...

Page 62: ... right panel under LAN or High Speed Internet double click Wireless Network Connection The Wireless Network Connection Status window appears 5 Click Properties The Wireless Network Connection Properties window appears 6 On the Wireless Networks tab click Advanced The Advanced window appears 7 Click to select Any available network access point preferred and click Close 8 Click OK 9 Click Close 10 T...

Page 63: ...s an existing wired local network to wireless devices by providing an Access Point for example the Sony Access Point The Access Point bridges the wireless and wired LAN and acts as a central controller for the Wireless LAN The Access Point coordinates transmission and reception from multiple wireless devices within a specific range ...

Page 64: ... information 2 Turn on the WIRELESS LAN switch The WIRELESS LAN indicator lights up 3 Click Start and then Control Panel 4 Click Network and Internet Connections 5 Click Network Connections 6 In the right panel under LAN or High Speed Internet double click Wireless Network Connection The Wireless Network Connection window appears 7 Follow the on screen instructions ...

Page 65: ...panied the access point for more information 2 Turn on the WIRELESS or WIRELESS LAN switch The WIRELESS LAN indicator lights up 3 Click Start point to All Programs and click VAIO Wireless Utility The VAIO Wireless Utility appears 4 Follow the on screen instructions To disconnect from a wireless network Turn off the WIRELESS or WIRELESS LAN switch Turning off the wireless LAN functionality while ac...

Page 66: ... functionality to your computer by using the various ports on the computer Connecting an External Microphone page 68 Connecting a Universal Serial Bus USB Device page 69 Connecting a Printer page 71 Connecting an i LINK Device page 72 Connecting to a Network LAN page 74 ...

Page 67: ...f you need to use a sound input device for example to chat on the Internet you need to plug in an external microphone To connect an external microphone Plug the microphone cable 1 into the microphone connector 2 m Make sure your microphone is designed for computer use ...

Page 68: ...USB floppy disk drive and connect it to your computer To connect a USB floppy disk drive 1 Choose the USB port you prefer to use 2 Plug the USB floppy disk drive cable into the USB port Your USB floppy disk drive is now ready for use When using a USB floppy disk drive do not apply force on the USB port This may cause a malfunction ...

Page 69: ...USB cable directly from the computer To disconnect a USB floppy disk drive 1 Close all programs accessing the floppy disk drive 2 Double click the Safely Remove Hardware icon on the taskbar The Safely Remove Hardware window appears 3 Select the floppy disk drive you want to unplug 4 Click Stop The Stop a Hardware device window appears 5 Make sure the floppy disk drive is selected and click OK A me...

Page 70: ...nnect a USB printer compatible with your version of Windows to the computer You need to slide the back panel cover up to access the USB ports on the bottom panel To connect a printer using the USB port 1 Plug the printer power cord into an AC outlet 1 2 Choose the USB port 3 you prefer to use 3 Plug one end of a USB printer cable 2 into the USB port and the other end to your printer ...

Page 71: ...ends on the transfer rate of the external device i LINK cables compatible with the computer include cables with the following part numbers VMC IL4415 a 1 5 meter cable with a 4 pin connector at each end VMC IL4408 Series a 0 8 meter cable with a 4 pin connector at each end An i LINK connection with other compatible devices is not fully guaranteed The i LINK connection varies depending on the softw...

Page 72: ...into the DV In Out ports 3 on the digital video camera recorder 2 Launch the DVgate Plus software On Sony digital video cameras ports labeled DV Out DV In Out or i LINK are i LINK compatible The Sony digital video camera recorder shown here is an example your digital video camera recorder may need to be connected differently You cannot access the pictures stored on a Memory Stick when using an i L...

Page 73: ...o connect to the network see your network administrator Your computer has a protective sticker covering the Network Ethernet port located on the left of the computer Connect a 10BASE T or 100BASE TX cable to the Network Ethernet port Using an incorrect cable or a phone cable may result in an electric current overload that can cause a malfunction excessive heat or fire in the Network Ethernet port ...

Page 74: ...nnector is connected to the telephone lines mentioned below high electric current to the connector may cause damage overheating or fire Home intercom speakerphone or business use telephone lines multi line business telephone Public telephone subscriber line PBX private branch exchange Do not plug a telephone cable into the network port ...

Page 75: ...er Customizing Your VAIO Computer This section briefly describes how to change the main settings of your computer Setting the Password page 77 Setting Up Your Computer with VAIO Control Center page 80 Using the Power Saving Modes page 81 ...

Page 76: ...rd Use one of the BIOS functions to set the password Once you have set the password you will have to enter the password after the VAIO logo appears to start your computer The power on password will allow you to protect your computer from unauthorized access ...

Page 77: ...go appears The BIOS setup screen appears 3 Use the or key to select Security on the Boot menu to display another screen select Change Supervisor Password and then press the Enter key 4 On the password entry screen enter the password twice and press the Enter key The password can be up to 6 alphanumeric characters long The following is to configure the computer to prompt password entry when you tur...

Page 78: ...y to select Security on the Boot menu to display another screen select Change Supervisor Password and then press the Enter key 5 On the password entry screen enter a new password twice and press the Enter key To remove the password leave the Enter Password field blank and press the Enter key 6 Press the Esc key 7 Use the or key to select Exit and select Exit Save Changes and then press the Enter k...

Page 79: ...ick Start point to All Programs and click VAIO Control Center The VAIO Control Center window appears 2 Select the desired control item and change the settings 3 Once finished click OK The setting of the desired item has been changed For more information about each option click Help on the VAIO Control Center window to display the help file Some of the control items will not be visible if you open ...

Page 80: ...tically enter Standby or Hibernate mode after a certain amount of time click Start and Control Panel Click Performance and Maintenance and Power Options and then change the settings under Power Schemes Using Normal Mode This is the normal state of the computer when it is in use The green power indicator light is on in this mode To save power while not working you can turn off a specific device suc...

Page 81: ... the keyboard to put the computer in Standby mode To return to Normal mode Press any key If you press the power button for more than four seconds the computer will switch off automatically You will lose any unsaved data When the computer is in Standby mode you cannot insert a disc The computer comes out of Standby mode quicker than out of Hibernate mode Standby mode uses more power than Hibernate ...

Page 82: ...e If you press the power button for more than four seconds the computer will switch off automatically If you do not use the computer for a long period of time put the computer into Hibernate mode This power saving mode saves you the time of shutting down or resuming When the computer is in Hibernate mode you cannot insert a disc Hibernate mode requires more time than Standby mode to be activated I...

Page 83: ...ntact your dealer to install a new memory module You do not install it yourself if you are not familiar with upgrading memory on a computer You do not touch the connectors or open the memory panel For the type of module and amount of memory installed on your model refer to the online Specifications Contact VAIO Link if you need assistance Before Upgrading Your Computer page 85 Adding and Removing ...

Page 84: ...ailure to disconnect the computer from its power source may result in personal injury or equipment damage Always turn the power off before you open the computer or connect peripheral equipment Otherwise damage may occur to the integrated circuits Electrostatic discharge ESD can damage disk drives and other components Follow the procedures described here only at an ESD workstation If such a station...

Page 85: ...ing a memory module ensure the following The procedures described in this document assume familiarity with the general terminology associated with personal computers and with the safety practices and regulatory compliance required for using and modifying electronic equipment Turn off the computer and disconnect the system from its power source and from any telecommunication links networks or modem...

Page 86: ...e computer and any repair costs will not be covered by the warranty Do not place the memory module in places subject to Heat sources such as radiators or air ducts Direct sunlight Excessive dust Mechanical vibration or shock Strong magnets or speakers that are not magnetically shielded Ambient temperature of more than 95 F 35 C or less than 41 F 5 C High humidity Handle the memory module with care...

Page 87: ...t down the computer the internal components may be too hot to touch Wait about one hour to let the components cool down before you attempt to remove the panel To change or add a memory module 1 Shut down the computer and turn off all peripheral devices such as a printer 2 Unplug the computer and disconnect any peripheral devices ...

Page 88: ...89 n N Upgrading Your VAIO Computer 3 Press and hold the release button 1 slide the top panel 2 toward the back of the computer lift the panel and set it aside ...

Page 89: ...90 n N Upgrading Your VAIO Computer 4 Unscrew the two screws on the memory cover 1 lift the cover and set it aside 5 Touch a metal object such as the chassis frame to discharge static electricity ...

Page 90: ...e the memory module s you wish to remove 7 Push down on the latches 1 located on both sides of the module to gently eject it from the slot 8 Grasp the memory module by the sides and remove from the computer Store the module in a static free bag ...

Page 91: ... in the open module slot 10 Firmly insert the lower edge of the module 2 into the slot by pressing down evenly against the module s upper corners The side latches 3 snap into position holding the memory module in place To avoid damaging a memory module or the memory module slot move the side latches slightly outward to relieve pressure ...

Page 92: ...93 n N Upgrading Your VAIO Computer 11 Replace the memory cover 1 and tighten the two screws 12 Gently slide the top panel onto the computer until it snaps into place ...

Page 93: ... to All Programs and click VAIO Control Center 3 Click the System Information tab in the VAIO Control Center window 4 Double click the System Information folder 5 Double click the System Information icon You can view the amount of system memory If the additional memory does not appear repeat the whole procedure and restart the computer ...

Page 94: ...y installed hard disk drive you may need to correct the drive mapping and or create a VAIO Recovery Media Kit Visit the VAIO Link web site www vaio link com for more information About drive mapping When a new hard disk drive is installed the original drive mapping may be changed The identified drives including those for removable media may not reflect correct drive icon associations For more infor...

Page 95: ...ore the drive partitions operating system or original software programs Before replacing the hard disk drive create a VAIO Recovery Media Kit Your computer is not supplied with System or Application Recovery CDs Use the VAIO Recovery utility to recover the computer s operating system and preinstalled software programs For more details refer to the Recovery Guide ...

Page 96: ...fies the new hard disk drive as drive D the Click to DVD software saves its files to a new folder on the new drive D If the Windows operating system assigns another letter to the new hard disk drive such as drive E or J the Click to DVD software creates the new save folder on the new drive When you start the Click to DVD software for the first time after recovering the computer or installing a new...

Page 97: ...our to let the components cool down before you attempt to remove the panel To install an additional hard disk drive 1 Shut down the computer and turn off all peripheral devices such as a printer 2 Unplug the computer and disconnect any peripheral devices 3 Gently place the computer on a flat and stable surface with the LCD screen facing down Use caution when placing the LCD screen face down on a t...

Page 98: ...99 n N Upgrading Your VAIO Computer 4 Unscrew the four screws on the bottom of the back panel 1 5 Slide the back panel toward the bottom of the computer lift the panel and set it aside ...

Page 99: ...100 n N Upgrading Your VAIO Computer 6 Unscrew the two screws on the hard disk cover 1 lift the cover and set it aside 7 Unscrew the four screws on the drive holder 1 ...

Page 100: ...101 n N Upgrading Your VAIO Computer 8 Pull the drive holder slightly out and detach the power and interface cables from the original hard disk drive that is preinstalled in the computer ...

Page 101: ...he drive holder and align the holes on each side of the drive bay 11 Secure the drive to the drive holder with screws through the holes on each side of the drive holder The new hard disk drive is supplied with the necessary screws Do not overtighten these screws when securing the drive to the drive holder ...

Page 102: ... holder with the tracks on the inside of the chassis Connect the power and internal SATA cables to the original and new hard disks and slide the drive holder in completely 13 Replace the hard disk cover and the back panel and then place the computer upright ...

Page 103: ...e menu The Computer Management window appears 4 Under the file directory on the right double click Storage and then Disk Management 5 Right click on the newly installed unformatted hard disk Disk label identified with red marking and select Initialize Disk from the menu 6 Click on the allocated area of the disk 7 Right click the area and select New Partition from the menu The New Partition wizard ...

Page 104: ...s to help you protect your computer from potential damage On Handling the LCD Screen page 106 On Using the Power Source page 107 On Handling Your Computer page 108 On Handling Discs page 110 On Using Headphones page 110 On Handling Memory Stick page 111 On Handling the Hard Disk page 112 ...

Page 105: ...al image may appear on the screen if the same image is displayed for a lengthy period of time The residual image disappears in a while You can use a screen saver to prevent residual images The screen becomes warm during operation This is normal and does not indicate a malfunction The LCD is manufactured using high precision technology You may however see tiny black points and or bright points red ...

Page 106: ...ts damage to the computer caused by sudden power surges in an electrical storm for example Do not place heavy objects on the power cord To disconnect the cord pull it out by the plug Never pull the cord itself Unplug the computer from the AC outlet if you are planning to not use the computer for a long time Make sure that the AC outlet is easily accessible Use the power cord supplied with the comp...

Page 107: ... ducts Direct sunlight Excessive dust Moisture or rain Mechanical vibration or shock Strong magnets or speakers that are not magnetically shielded Ambient temperature of more than 95 F 35 C or less than 41 F 5 C High humidity Do not place electronic equipment near the computer The electromagnetic field of the computer may cause a malfunction Provide adequate air circulation to prevent internal hea...

Page 108: ...r In this case allow at least one hour before turning on the computer If any problems occur unplug the computer and contact an authorized Sony Service Center To find the nearest center or agent visit the Sony online support Web site Make sure you disconnect the power cord before cleaning the computer To avoid losing data if the computer is damaged back up your data regularly ...

Page 109: ...e damage to the disc For normal cleaning hold the disc by its edge and use a soft cloth to wipe the surface from the center out If the disc is badly soiled moisten a soft cloth with water wring it out well and use it to wipe the surface of the disc from the center out Wipe off any remaining moisture with a dry soft cloth Never put stickers on discs This will affect the use of the disc irreparably ...

Page 110: ... Use only the label supplied with the Memory Stick as a label Do not bend drop or apply strong shock to the Memory Stick Do not disassemble or modify Memory Sticks Do not let Memory Sticks get wet Do not use or store Memory Sticks in a location subject to Extremely high temperatures such as in a car parked in the sun Direct sunlight High humidity or Corrosive substances Use the storage case suppli...

Page 111: ...ould be careful when handling the computer To avoid damaging your hard disk Do not subject the computer to sudden movements Keep the computer away from magnets Do not place the computer in a location subject to mechanical vibration or in an unstable position Do not move the computer while the power is on Do not turn off the power or restart the computer while reading or writing data to disk Do not...

Page 112: ...ions before visiting the Sony online support Web site at http www vaio link com Computer page 114 System Security page 121 Internet page 123 Networking page 125 CDs and DVDs page 128 Display page 132 Printing page 133 Microphone page 134 Mouse page 135 Speakers page 136 Keyboard page 137 Floppy Disks page 138 PC Cards page 139 Audio Video page 140 Memory Stick page 141 Peripherals page 142 ...

Page 113: ...is plugged into a power strip or uninterruptible power supply UPS make sure the power strip or UPS is plugged into a power source and turned on Make sure the brightness and contrast controls are adjusted correctly Condensation may cause the computer to malfunction If this occurs do not use the computer for at least one hour Remove any extra memory modules you may have inserted since purchase Confi...

Page 114: ... menu 3 Press the m key to select Load Setup Defaults 4 Press the Enter key The Load Setup Defaults window appears 5 Select OK and press the Enter key 6 Select Exit Save Changes and press the Enter key The Save configuration changes and exit now window appears 7 Select OK and press the Enter key The computer restarts If this occurs on a regular basis contact an authorized Sony Service Center To fi...

Page 115: ...If nothing still appears on your screen after a while 1 Press the power button for more than four seconds to check that the power indicator goes out Then turn on the computer again 2 If nothing still appears on your screen unplug the power cord and leave the computer for about a minute Then plug in the power cord and turn on the computer again ...

Page 116: ... start follow these steps to initialize the BIOS 1 If there is a CD or DVD in the optical disc drive remove it 2 Turn off the computer 3 Remove any peripheral devices connected to the computer 4 Restart the computer 5 Press the F2 key when the VAIO logo appears The BIOS setup screen appears 6 Press the key to select the Exit menu 7 Press the m key to select Load Setup Defaults 8 Press the Enter ke...

Page 117: ...ndows Task Manager window appears click Turn Off from the Shut Down menu When the Windows Security window appears click Shut Down If the computer still does not turn off press and hold the power button until the computer turns off If the computer stops responding while playing a CD or DVD press the Ctrl Alt Delete keys simultaneously You can turn off the computer from the Windows Task Manager Pres...

Page 118: ... steps 1 Press the Ctrl Alt Delete keys simultaneously The Windows Task Manager or Windows Security window appears 2 When the Windows Task Manager window appears press and release the Alt key to highlight the menu bar press the key to select Shut Down and then follow step 3 and 4 When the Windows Security window appears press the S key to shut down 3 Press the Enter key 4 Press the R key to select...

Page 119: ...or before entering the password What should I do if my game software does not work or it keeps crashing Check the web site of the game if there are any patches or updates to download Make sure you have installed the latest video driver On some VAIO models the graphics memory is shared with the system The optimal graphic performance in this case is not guaranteed What should I do if I cannot rememb...

Page 120: ...updates regularly You can get important Windows updates by doing one of the following The Automatic Updates feature This feature automatically searches for and delivers updates directly to the computer whenever you are connected to the Internet The Windows Updates web site This site enables you to download computer updates without turning on the Automatic Updates feature The computer must be conne...

Page 121: ...eep the Norton Internet Security software program current with the latest updates from Symantec Corporation To download and install the latest security update 1 Double click the Norton Internet Security icon on the taskbar If you have not previously registered the antivirus software a series of information wizards appear 1 Follow the on screen instructions to complete each wizard 2 Double click th...

Page 122: ...one number the program is dialing is correct Make sure the software you are using is compatible with the computer s modem All preinstalled Sony programs are compatible Make sure that the modem is the only device connected to your phone line Check the following setting 1 Click Start and then Control Panel 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware 3 Click Phone and Modem Options 4 On the Modems tab check ...

Page 123: ...ng properly to other PC based modems fax machines or your Internet Service Provider ISP follow these steps Ask your telephone company to verify your telephone line is free of any line noise If your problem is fax related make sure there are no problems with the fax machine you are calling and that it is compatible with fax modems If you are having a problem connecting with your ISP make sure the I...

Page 124: ...ick Start and then Control Panel 2 Click Network and Internet Connections 3 Click Network Connections 4 Right click Wireless Network Connection 5 Click Properties 6 Click the Wireless Network tab 7 Make sure the access point is displayed in the Available networks Make sure the encryption key is correct Why can t I access the Internet Check the access point settings See the instructions supplied wi...

Page 125: ...emporarily overloaded depending on how many other devices are communicating via the access point If your access point interferes with other access points change the access point channel See your access point instructions for more information How do I avoid data transfer interruptions When the computer is connected to an access point data transfer interruptions may occur when using large files or i...

Page 126: ...e using a wireless LAN access point see connectivity information contained in your access point instructions When I change the encryption key the network connection stops What should I do Two computers with built in wireless LAN may loose a peer to peer network connection if the encryption key is changed You can either change the encryption key back to the original profile or re enter the key on b...

Page 127: ...or damage If the disc is dirty see On Handling Discs page 110 for instructions on how to clean it What should I do if the drive tray won t open Make sure the computer is on Press the drive eject button If the drive eject button does not work click Start and then My Computer Right click the optical disc drive icon and select Eject from the shortcut menu If none of the above options work insert a th...

Page 128: ...uctions If you are playing a CD or DVD and cannot hear sound follow these steps Double click the Volume icon on the taskbar and click to cancel the Master Volume Mute All and Wave Mute check boxes Check the volume setting in the audio mixer If you are using external speakers check the volume settings on the speakers and the connections between the speakers and the computer Make sure the CD audio f...

Page 129: ...ke sure an adhesive label was not attached to the CD or DVD Adhesive labels can come off while the disc is in the optical disc drive and damage the drive or cause it to malfunction If a region code warning appears the disc may be incompatible with the optical disc drive Check the DVD package to make sure the region code is compatible with the optical disc drive If you notice condensation on the co...

Page 130: ...online Specifications to see whether your model is equipped with an optical disc drive capable of DVD writing Are you using the correct DVD recordable media Check which DVD recordable format is compatible with the computer s built in DVD recorder DVD R DVD RW DVD R DVD RW Note the possibility that some brands of DVD recordable media do not work The preinstalled software on the computer does not su...

Page 131: ...mode press any key to activate the computer screen See Using the Power Saving Modes page 81 for more information Make sure the computer is plugged into a power source and is on The power indicator on the computer will be on if the computer is on The display output of the computer may have been turned off press the MONITOR OFF button What should I do if the screen is dark Press the Brightness butto...

Page 132: ...ng after the computer resumes from a power saving mode Standby or Hibernate then restart the computer If the bidirectional communication functions are provided with your printer disabling the functions on the computer may enable printing Follow these steps 1 Click Start and then Control Panel 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware 3 Click Printers and Faxes 4 Right click an unused printer and select ...

Page 133: ... n N Troubleshooting Microphone Why doesn t my microphone work If you are using an external microphone make sure the microphone is turned on and is properly plugged into the Microphone jack on the computer ...

Page 134: ...trl Alt Delete keys simultaneously When the Windows Task Manager window appears press the Alt key to highlight the menu bar and press the key to select Shut Down Press the Enter key and then press the R key Press and hold the power button When the computer turns off wait 10 to 15 seconds then press the power button again to restart the computer If you are using a wireless optical mouse Confirm tha...

Page 135: ...ers If you are using a program that has its own volume control make sure the volume control is properly set See that program s help guide for more information Your speakers may be set to mute the volume setting may be too low or the audio option may be disabled The speaker volume may have been turned off Press the MONITOR OFF button on the front of the computer or press the Mute button on the keyb...

Page 136: ...e sticker on the box If you choose a different regional keyboard when you complete the Windows setup the key configuration will be mismatched To change the keyboard configuration follow these steps 1 Click Start and then Control Panel 2 Click Date Time Language and Regional Options and click Regional and Language Options 3 Change the settings as desired ...

Page 137: ...the LED indicator on the floppy disk drive to turn off 3 Push the eject button to remove the disk and disconnect the USB floppy disk drive from the computer 4 Reconnect the floppy disk drive by inserting the USB connector with the USB icon facing upward into the USB port 5 Restart the computer by clicking Start Turn Off Computer and then Restart Why is the drive unable to write data to a floppy di...

Page 138: ... Why doesn t my computer recognize attached devices For some PC Cards if you alternate between normal power operation and the Standby or Hibernate modes while the card is inserted into the PC Card slot the computer may not recognize the PC Card or the connected device Restart the computer Why can t I insert my PC Card Make sure you are inserting the card correctly See Inserting a PC Card page 47 f...

Page 139: ...tion i LINK is a trademark of Sony used only to designate that a product contains an IEEE1394 connection The i LINK connection may vary depending on the software applications operating system and compatible i LINK devices All products with an i LINK connection may not communicate with each other See the manual that came with your compatible i LINK device for information on operating conditions and...

Page 140: ... Stick Formatter software preinstalled on the computer For instructions about formatting a Memory Stick see the help file on the Memory Stick Formatter software Why can t I save music files onto my Memory Stick Copyright protected music cannot be checked out to any Memory Stick other than MagicGate Memory Stick Using recorded music requires permission of the copyright holders Sony is not responsib...

Page 141: ... AC outlet Try using a different USB port on the computer The driver could be installed to the specific port you used the first time you connected the device Check the manual provided with the USB device You may need to install software before you connect the device Try connecting a simple low powered device such as a mouse to test that the port is working at all USB hubs may prevent a device from...

Page 142: ... an IEEE1394 connection Adobe Adobe Acrobat Elements Adobe Acrobat Professional Adobe Reader Adobe Premiere Elements and Adobe Photoshop Elements are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated Norton Internet Security and Norton Password Manager are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation WinDVD for VAIO is a trademark of InterVideo Inc Sun Java VM is a trademark of Sun Microsyst...

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